Miss Scarlett, Newt, Rapunzel, Squeegie, Sunbeam. The last photo of the Babes n Boots :(

With Brittany and Courtney in Boiling Springs, PA
Before and after shots of the 1/2 gallon challenge
The Babes n Boots somewhere really close to the halfway point
South vs North at the Mason Dixon Line (we were a little bit outnumbered but still represented well)

update from Mom

I apologize for not keeping everyone updated on the girl's progress. They asked me to do that for them and I have slacked on the job!! Last Monday they made it to the official halfway point of the trail - mile 1089.1. A couple of miles further at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA they enjoyed the half gallon challenge. Apparently the concessioner at this park keeps half gallons of ice cream for the thru hikers who have made it halfway. The challenge is to eat the whole thing! Up to that day only two females this year had been able to do the deed, but by Monday afternoon Newt, Miss Scarlett, Rapunzel, Squeegie, and I think Sunbeam had all joined the club.

So they started their journey on March 15 and on June 15 they made it halfway! There was also sadness this day because Rapunzel's Dad came to pick her up. They were all very sad to see her leave, but know she is off for another adventure visiting Japan.

Since then their good friends Courtney and Brittany drove up to visit with them and camp with them at night. Court and Brit rode bikes during the day until they could meet Jen and Sarah at some point along the trail. I know they had a good visit. They also got to stay at the Doyle Hotel which was built by Anheuser Busch over a hundred years ago. Apparently it is traditional for hikers to stay there and exchange stories at the bar.

Unfortunately it is still raining. Sam Wise has had enough and has left the trail for a while. Hammock is a week behind because he went home for his brother's wedding (he and his family hosted the whole crew at their house for a day and night-
feeding them and letting them crash at their home. Jen and Sarah were happy to see Hammock's Mom again and really enjoyed the visit and hospitality); Bison is still behind after being ill for a few days and will be getting off for a couple of weeks to spend time with his family; Colonel Mustard is in and out. They still have a core group consisting of Newt, Miss Scarlett, Squeegie, Sunbeam, and Half Moon aka. Babes in Boots and Bubba.

Remember, if you want to view their previous posts just scroll down to "older posts" at the bottom of this and click.

More from Harpers Ferry

These descriptions start with the bottom picture and move up.
Brittany with her guitar and harmonica at trail days in Damascus
Miss Scarlett and Newt in Shenandoah National Park
The bear was posing for us before it got off of the trail
At the ATC headquarters in Harper's Ferry, WV

Harper's Ferry

We've made it to Harper's Ferry, WV. It's at mile 1,013 and in less than a week we'll be at the halfway point at mile 1,089! Mom and Dad and Grandma have come up to visit us for the last time before Maine. Since the last update we have hiked through Shenandoah National Park where we saw our first bears of the trip. The weather is still crazy; sometimes hot, sometimes cold, often rainy and more frequent thunderstorms. We are having a good time and the trail feels like home now. We are no longer in a state that borders TN so it really does feel like we have hiked a long way (plus it even looks far on a map:). The restaurants no longer serve sweet tea which is a dead giveaway that we are entering new territory. The Mason Dixon line is in site!
On another note I want to keep everyone updated with the group we've been hiking with. Rapunzel, who we've been hiking with since day 4, is getting off the trail on the 15th of June, just days away. Her original plan was to get off at Harper's Ferry because she is going to Japan in July. We've convinced her to go a few more days to the actual halfway point. Squeegie, Sunbeam, Halfmoon, and Samwise are still with us. Hammock got ahead when we all went to trail days but we're hoping to catch up to him in Pennsylvania. Colonel Mustard is a few days behind us but he'll catch up. Since Trail Days we have also been hiking with a guy named Mississippi. The past few weeks we've also been hiking with three guys named Bison, Mr. Buffalo Man, and Goof. We've actually known them since the Smokies but our groups are usually a few days apart. Longhaul, who we had been hiking with previous to Damascus, lives around the D.C. area and has been doing some amazing trail magic for us. He had to get off the trail because of an infection in his toe which got into the bone. We keep meeting more and more amazing people out here. We're just a big trail family!